4 Ways to Get Hired with Little Experience

Every year, thousands of job applicants struggle to find their niche in the professional world. Between graduates and non-graduates, the competition has become fierce, that educational attainment seems to blur lines with relevant experiences and often, all boils down to strategy and determination. While social connections help in getting acquainted with the right people, not everyone gets to have that privilege and there’s no easy way to skyrocket to success but from bottom, and up. This is the case for most Filipino applicants. 

Around 1.5 million high school students and 500,000 college students are expected to graduate this year, based on a research study conducted by Philippine Association of Institutions. Between these numbers, are dreams and aspirations, while needing to survive and provide for families. In March 2025, the unemployment rate in the Philippines rose to 3.90 percent, a 0.10% increase from the previous month - a data from Trading Economics that shows how it’s been challenging for Filipinos to land jobs in recent months. In addition to the growing population and the number of people joining the workforce, the lack of education and stiffer requirements in skills and qualifications required for the jobs, pose some challenges for job seekers. Though there are online courses available and vocational training extended to some communities, these are not all accessible to an average Filipino which often causes job mismatch among applicants.

According to the OBP sourcing team supervisor, job seekers must be ready to take on any jobs related to their courses to get relevant experiences. While additional training certifications and internships help, it is best to have actual hands-on work. “Applicants should not be choosy. They should take whatever opportunity is available out there that is related to their courses. Once they get the actual job experience, then they can start negotiating about their rates”, according to him.

In some skill-specific roles, fresh graduates get the luck of landing a job immediately after graduation, just like those who graduated with a degree in Customs Administration. “We have some roles who are readily available for fresh graduates of Customs,” according to OBP’s senior sourcing specialist. While this isn’t always the case for most fresh graduates, getting online certifications help, according to one of OBP’s content writers. “The online courses gave me a more technical know-how about SEO. They were very easy to follow, they had quizzes, additional resources and above all, you get to be certified for free”, she said. One of our multimedia artists also advised that the additional training courses should be relevant and specific. “I’ve had many experiences early on as a multimedia artist when I was still a student and they all have been relevant to my course”. Aside from these, OBP’s digital marketing manager also revealed the most important attribute that applicants should have. “Other than all of these relevant on-the-job experiences, what we really look for are people who have the energy to match our culture”, she added.

(Inspiring students to kickstart their careers — OBP at UMak's University Mega Job Fair 2025 last May 8-9)

With the amount of people coming into the workforce every year, it’s best to come in prepared, whether you’re a fresh graduate, or someone who’s looking for a career change. Here are four tips on how you can get hired with little experience:

Take Additional Training Courses

Knowledge and skill-specific courses are easily available online. These training classes can be taken based on the trainee's availability and typically are divided into sections. These online training courses will help certified applicants get more technical and practical expertise in their chosen fields.

Seek Out Internship Opportunities

Even if you already finished your internship in school, be proactive in reaching out to other pioneers in the business to get more hands-on experience. When you get to be connected with more people professionally, it’s easier to get endorsements and recommendations for other job prospects.  

Build Your Resume

Relevant experiences, internships and academic milestones should be highlighted in the resume. This should be updated as needed, especially if you are looking for career opportunities. Resumes should be easy to read and should include achievements of applicants professionally, and in the communities he/she supports and identifies with.

Grow Your Professional Network on Social Media

Leverage on your social media presence by posting content relevant to your interests and aspiring career. This way, people who will need your service will easily find you. While it is also important to stand out, your posts should also always be positive and encouraging.

While the competition among job seekers has become tougher than ever, applicants should be proactive in seeking out new experiences and additional training needed to get employed. Also, it is important to establish connections early on and establish a social media presence that highlights your work and exudes positive energy that recruiters look for. With the availability of resources available online, applicants should take every opportunity they can to improve their resume - this should highlight their academic background, relevant certifications and completed internship programs. While beginnings aren’t easy, it will always begin with one step. And while taking the first step could be a challenge, having the courage to start and know-how where to start will be an advantage.

Check out our available hiring roles and take the first step with OBP today!